Mounting pressure: Are the players beginning to face too much title race pressure? (Image: Michael Regan)

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The conclusion of the Premier League title race beckons, and while it holds out a tantalising vision of what could be for Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City fans, it also guarantees agony for all but one of those sides.

Brendan Rodgers has repeated the same message for most of the season... 'we'd be delighted with a top four finish'.

Only recently he dared Liverpool fans to dream of winning the title, but said he wouldn't be joining them in these aspirations.

More recently, these dreams have been vocalised by hopeful fans, singing "we're going to win the league" in resounding chorus from the Kop as Liverpool's young squad notched up another league win against Sunderland.

But that doesn't tell the whole story. As Ki netted what would eventually only amount to a consolation goal for the visiting side, he revealed a squad of young players under an increasingly intense amount of pressure.

(Image: John Powell)

That pressure doesn't come from their manager, it doesn't come from the board, so where does it come from?

Heads dropped when the goal went in, notably on some of the younger guys, and Liverpool were left trying to hold onto a one goal lead, at home, against a side struggling for survival in the Premier League.

Just a few days ago, Liverpool conceded three goals against 19th place Cardiff, who have only previously managed that feat twice this season; once against fellow relegation strugglers Fulham, and once against an early injury-ridden incarnation of Pellegrini's Man City.

Most neutrals would likely agree that no team deserves to be added to the list of Premier League title winning clubs more than Liverpool, and that after a period of such instability off the field, the fans deserve to shout about their renewed status as title contenders.

But the fans must also be aware of the message their manager is peddling, and the reason he is distancing his players from the Premier League title race.

Every time he bats away a question about the title race, he gives his players a point to prove. But they don't have to prove the point to members of the media, to millions of spectators around the world, they just have to prove the point to him: We can win the league, boss, watch us do it.

(Image: John Powell)

Rodgers is no fool, he already knows he has built a team of talented players who are capable of clinching the title, but by telling his players and the media that he is only targeting a top four finish, he alleviates them of all pressure in the title race.

Just look at the spectacular way in which 'title contenders' Arsenal have imploded, it's a perfect example of the pressure of this accolade.

And too, look at the effect of Jose Mourinho's "little horses" speech and the way in which players like Eden Hazard stood up and set out to prove Mourinho wrong when he said Chelsea were not good enough to be title contenders.

So Liverpool fans should dare to dream, but for the good of their team they must publicly toe the party line and avoid putting unnecessary pressure on the players.

I've changed my mind on that one. Liverpool have momentum and confidence, and they have a number of reliable goalscorers. They go into the final stretch in the position of being the form side.

(Image: John Powell)

But beware the lessons of the disappointing and ultimately fatal points dropped against inferior competition in the 2008/09 season.

Rafa knew his players could win the title back then, and so did they. But they stumbled against lower-half opposition in the middle of the season and were left chasing eventual league winners Manchester United.

Liverpool need to travel to West Ham, Norwich and Crystal Palace with the mindset of getting the job done. If they have their minds elsewhere, thinking about winning the league, those fixtures end up becoming 'must-win games'... and they've already got two of those coming up at Anfield when Man City and Chelsea come to visit.

Brendan Rodgers has played his part to perfection, now Liverpool fans must follow his lead, and they could be rewarded with the greatest celebration party since 2005.